Mrs. Yuan burst into tears at the sight of Mrs. Han, thinking of Yun Jinnian, who was still asleep, she hastily covered her mouth.
Mrs. Han’s eyes also reddened, and she staggered into the small courtyard.
Such a small courtyard, not even as big as Bai Que’s, Mrs. Yuan pointed, and Mrs. Han knew which room was Jinnian’s. Entering the room, she saw just the top of Jinnian’s head, sleeping on the kang, her little mouth rosy, her small face pale and tender, her hair pitch black.
Mrs. Han covered her lips, tears falling non-stop.
Yun Qi stood at the doorway, not daring to enter. He feared that if he did, Mrs. Han would tear him apart.
It was Jinnian, sensing Mrs. Han’s arrival, who opened her eyes and slowly sat up.
"Mother!" Her voice was shallow, light, and tender.
Mrs. Han called softly, stepping forward to embrace Jinnian, crying heartbreakingly.
Jinnian felt uncomfortable inside but could not cry.
After that dream, she could only shed tears after feeling extremely wronged and disappointed, but she couldn’t make a sound, just as she couldn’t make a sound no matter how she laughed.
She gently wrapped her arms around Mrs. Han, silently comforting her.
Mrs. Han cried even harder, overcome with grief.
After a long while, Mrs. Han finally let go of Jinnian, "Let me take a good look at you!"
It had been over seven years. When she left, Jinnian was only four years old, and now she was eleven, nearly twelve with the new year approaching.
Jinnian smiled shallowly, tenderly.
No surprise, no joy, her eyes clean and clear, an air of neither happiness nor sorrow.
Mrs. Han looked on, her heart twisted in agony.
Yet her resentment towards herself grew, "Jinnian!"
"Shall we go home, okay?" Mrs. Han asked tentatively.
Jinnian didn’t ask which home they were returning to, whether it was the Han Family or the Yun Family. If they wanted her back, then she would go.
Since they were going back, Mrs. Yuan immediately began to pack. They didn’t bring much with them, and there wasn’t much to take back, except for an added stack of Buddhist scriptures.
When leaving, Jinnian visited Abbess Hui Ling, donating all her silver coins to the lamp oil fund, keeping not a single coin for herself.
"I have some Medical Books here. I’d like to give them to you," said Abbess Hui Ling, handing the Medical Books to Jinnian.
"Thank you, Abbess!" Jinnian received them with both hands and had Mrs. Yuan keep them safe.
But it was already noon, so they could only have lunch in the nunnery before leaving.
Pickles, greens, egg soup.
Yun Qi was silent, Mrs. Han slowly accompanying Jinnian as she ate, unsure how to serve her food.
Because there really wasn’t anything good to offer.
Jinnian ate little, and after finishing, she put down her chopsticks.
Mrs. Han smiled at Jinnian, "Can you step out for a moment? Your father and I have something to discuss."
"Okay!" Jinnian obediently left the room.
Yun Qi, who initially had some expectations, dared not show them, and just watched silently as Mrs. Han dumped all the vegetables into the egg soup, heavily placing it in front of him, "Eat!"
As stubborn and willful as ever.
Yun Qi picked up the bowl and ate hungrily, recalling how Jinnian had eaten at the nunnery for a year...
On the way back, Jinnian, Yun Qi, and Mrs. Han, the family of three, took Yun Qi’s carriage, while Mrs. Yuan, Ming Yang, Ru Yue, and Bai Que took Mrs. Han’s carriage.
Ming Yang and Ru Yue knew that with this return, their good days were soon to come!
Mrs. Han held Jinnian, touching her small face, ruffling her hair, pinching her hands, unable to get enough of her, delighted beyond measure.
Jinnian smiled, shallowly and gently.
One ecstatic, the other serene, a stark contrast.